PIA Press Release2006/10/16

PGMA unveils billion pesos worth of projects in Calbayog today

Tacloban City (October 16) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to unveil the markers of the billion-peso worth of projects in Calbayog this morning as a highlight to the City’s 58th Anniversary Charter Day Celebration.

The President is scheduled to unveil the markers of the Cagbayang Bridge which was built under the President’s Bridge Program. She will also unveil the Sakay Na Project of the City of Calbayog in support of the President’s students retention program. This project means that a shuttle bus will fetch the disadvantaged students in the far-lung barangays who are unable to go to school for lack of financial means. This, according to mayor Mel Sarmiento, minimize if not eradicate the problem of students unable to continue going to school because their parents do not have the resources they need for their fare.

The Calbiga-Calbayog Road Network and the Calbayog-Catarman Road Projects will also be unveiled. The Calbiga-Calbayog Road network will solve the perennial problem of motorists and travelers—the inconvenience of travel due to very bad roads. The Calbayog-Catarman road which is more than 80 percent complete will reduce the travel time by more than one hour.

The President will also unveil the Transco Tower Lines on-going project will at last solve the brownout and blackout problems which are the usual occurrence in Northern Samar, Samar and Eastern Samar areas.

Also included among the projects to be unveiled are the Botika ng Bayan Project which is being managed by the Overseas Filipino Workers in Calbayog, the 42 accredited Tindahan Natin Project which will make available affordable rice and noodles to the disadvantaged people of Calbayog and the Calbayog City Sports Complex.

The Mariculture for the Poor livelihood Project will also be unveiled. This will make the Mariculture industry really benefit the many small fisherfolk of the City.

Also included in the President’s schedule in Calbayog City is the distribution of security of tenure certificates for Informal Settlers. This is in answer to the President’s housing project for the informal settlers.

The whole City is in a festive mood in anticipation of President Arroyo’s coming. The day started with a Mass and a civic-military parade participated in by all the sectors of the community headed by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and the City officials, Congressman Reynaldo Uy and Governor Milagrosa Tan. (PIA 8) [top]